Factual error: Winter in Antarctica would not have a night and day as portrayed, with the amount of light changing so much during the course of 24 hours.
Factual error: In the scene straight after the opening credits we are taken to Baker Street where construction work is being done. This work is identified by a sign with a logo as being for the underground line. The logo type face was developed by a Mr. Edward Johnston for London Underground from 1913 but the distinctive typeface used in the film was not in place until 1919. This is obviously long after the 1891 setting of the film.
Factual error: In the scene where Olivia's body is being removed from her home. Olivia was covered in blood, yet the sheet covering her has blood only in her chest area. The sheet would have had way more blood on it. Also, I'm an EMT, sheets are not used on victims that are dead. A body bag that zips closed and is made of rip proof plastic is used to transport deceased victims (especially if they are as bloody as Olivia was supposed to be). White sheets on a corpse are only seen in the morgue. (00:40:00)
Factual error: Tintin says they only have one bullet left. That bullet is in the magazine,and since it is a semi automatic, there should also be one in the chamber, meaning they would have two bullets. Even if they only had that paticular bullet, he doesn't cock the gun, meaning the chamber would be empty and therefore wouldn't fire.
Factual error: Near the end of the movie, when they go to steal the boat, there is a Puerto Rican flag in the front of the boat. This flag has the royal blue triangle, instead of the light blue that would have been in the 1960's such as all the other big flags used on poles.
Factual error: In the scene where Nathan and Lily's location is tracked online when chatting, it's evening in the USA and already dark sometime before dinner - yet the tracker calls his boss in London, England and it's daylight. Time-wise this is not possible.
Factual error: During the sleepover in the tent Dennis gives the girls M&Ms to snack on. If you look closely you can see one of the girls eating a blue M&M. These didn't hit the market until around 1995, a full 7 years after this movie takes place.
Factual error: Immediately after Eddie surfaces following his dive, he rests with his head well above the water. Had he actually been in water deep enough for the dive, he would have floated with his chin about even with the surface.
Factual error: In the last scene the ICE Train is leaving the station eastbound. It is not possible to enter these trains at the central station because all eastbound trains end in Berlin and have only one station left (Berlin Ostbahnhof). Every ICE leaving Berlin is going in the other (westbound) direction.
Factual error: The character Peter has a modern haircut that would not have been found during medieval Europe; his hair defying gravity despite being a time without hair gel.
Factual error: In the very last scene, Mikael and Erika get into a taxi and head off. This is on Bastugatan in Stockholm, and they are heading west. Bastugatan is a one-way road, and you can only go east. (Go to Bastugatan 14, Stockholm, Sverige and look west, the scene is very distinctive, as is the Do Not Enter sign.)
Factual error: The scene showing Paris at night displays heavy traffic and bright car headlights over the distance. Both were not possible to be seen at time the story occurs, circa 1920's.